Morning Storms Drop Hail, Knock Out Power

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Xcel Energy said nearly 23,000 people were without power in the Twin Cities metro area after severe thunderstorms rolled through Thursday morning. As of 3 p.m., though, it had been restored for all but a few hundred customers.

Some flights were delayed as a result of the storms at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Ping-pong or golf ball-sized hail was reported in the northwest metro area, with some viewers sending in pictures of hail in excess of those sizes. In towns such as Elk River and Annandale, hail was nearly golf ball size. Also reported were gusts of wind upwards of 40 to 50 miles per hour.

In certain parts of Minneapolis, like 37th Avenue NE, trees toppled over and were missing branches.